btw, i haven't read EVERY post in this thread, but the prevailing sentiment seems to be that bagwell will retire and the team will be better off.... would someone please explain this rationale to me? no, the 1994 bagwell will not be reporting to spring training next year no matter how hard he rehabs, but you're telling me if the 2004 bagwell shows up (.267/27/89), you'll be disappointed? if he can go 150 and we can add a legit bat (dunn remains my choice), a 3-7 of berkman, dunn, ensberg, bagwell and lane would be pretty potent. why is this so pissed on? also, the rangers are willing to deal kevin mench. if dunn can't be had (or if bagwell does have to retire), mench may be a nice pick-up. he's lane + 5. guy had an awful second half after a solid first season and a half. moving from arlington to MMP, he could easily be a 30-homer guy. and the players and media love him here. hard worker, good in the clubhouse, etc. texas will want an arm.
Anyone catch the ESPN version of the Astros Gm? Philips played the Astros GM today on ESPN. It's about to come on right now on ESPN.
It's pretty neat the GM thing that Steve Phillips is doing for the MLB teams. I found it quite entertaining seeing him as the Astros GM.
Yeah, but it just seemed like another vein for him to put out his opinions, some of which I didn't agree with. Especially the whole "we're recovering" crap. The Astros are the defending National League Champions. Perhaps the Cardinals and Braves need to "recover", but the Astros ought to be feeling pretty darn good right about now.
I don't want Sanders because he can neither lay off nor hit a good breaking ball. Nevermind that play. The Astros need more discipline in the heart of their batting order, right now only Berkman majorly shows that. My ideal is getting into Manny sweepstakes, after that Giles or Matsui. After that I am less sure. But the Stros need another big time hitting with a fine OBP right in front of or behind Berkman (make them 3/4 or 4/3).
Where the heck do you plan on playing Dunn, Berkman, Bagwell, and Lane. The only way that is possible is to bench Taveras and put Lane in center and have Berkman and Dunn be the corner outfielders. That defense would lose as many runs as the offense would gain. It isn't like balls don't fly out of the ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers were a lot better hitting at home on the road. I would think that more homeruns were hit there then any other ballbark in the bigs. If Bagwell does return, then I doubt we need a big bat. Everett, Taveras, or Lane would be the only players that can be replaced to really improve the offense. Taveras is a young, talented player and I doubt he will be gone. Lane was a decent offensive player and has a gun in right. The only real options to replace Everett in the free agent market are Nomar and Furcal. Both of those players are high priced. Nomar is injury-prone and I don't want to get into a bidding war with the cubs or braves for Furcal.
Why? He said nothing informative. Roger Clemens' decision is the most important part of our offseason. I don't know why he thinks we will go after a first baseman in the offseason if Bags can't come back. Berkman needs to be at first base. Burke could play in LF. The biggest thing for us in the offseason is finding another bat, only if we can trade Lane in a deal for another outfielder, keep burke waiting by picking up a FA. Burke deserves to play after his postseason. The Astros need to find another starting pitcher. I think that a number 3 or 4 starter is the priority. Worst Case scenario is to lose Clemens and have Bagwell's career over. This team can still make it to the series. I don't know why anyone would want to drastically change a team that made it to the world series. Taveras Biggio Berkman Ensberg Lane Burke Ausmus Everett Oswalt Petitte Backe FA Wandy
lane, schmane; not a gigantic fan; i'd deal him if bagwell were pronounced healthy and we could land dunn. re: defense - last year, berkman, lane and lamb combined to drive in 213 runs. with berkman and bagwell healthy, they along with dunn would combine to drive in close to 300 runs (based on taking their last full seasons of production plus dunn's '05 season). so it's your contention that the outfield defense is going to cost the team more than 90 runs? it is a hitter's park - for lefthanders with its short porch in right. moving to MMP, which favors right handers, would probably add 10 dingers to mench's totals. we still need a big bat.
Rerun died, too Baggs is finished, even if he sticks around his days as an everyday guy are done. He's been slowly slipping since 2000/2001 anyway. Evan
The convicted homer in me wants to lash out at this, but I decided check out your link instead (understanding and admitting the homer that I am). Slipping is true of BA, SLG, and OBP. But RBIs, HR, and other extra base hits didn't slip. If Bags is an RBI guy, then aren't we satisified if he does his job and drives in runs? (This, of course, carries the huge assumption that he will be able to even throw the ball.) With the exception of doubles, 2003 was back *up* from a little bit of an off year, and 2004 was back down a bit.
yeah, his batting average slipped but his HR and RBI were well within his normal range during his career. he defintely slipped the last 2 seasons because of the shoulder but that's the only REALLY noticable drop off. a couple homers and rbi aren't a telling sign.
well sure, he's slipping. he's 68 years old. but he's owed the money regardless and if he can be a 25/75 guy hitting 6th in the line-up, you've instantly upgraded the team w/o giving up anything. go out, find a legitimate clean-up hitter (btw, i saw today the phils may part with abreu), and, like i said, a 3-7 of berkman, legit clean-up hitter, ensberg, bagwell and lane is pretty formidable.
Problem: If Bagwell is playing, he plays 1st. That means Berkman plays left. That means Lane plays right. Ensberg would be at 3rd, and Biggio at 2nd. So is your legit clean up hitter supplanting Willy T in center, or are we picking up A-Rod (at shortstop), Tejada, or Mike Piazza of 5 years ago?
at this point do you think spending big money on Konerko is good for the team the stros have power down on the farm .
you know, in my head, that seemed like an awful lot of people... my guess is lane would have to be included in the deal for the legit slugger.
